NEW YORK: Apple Inc. has removed the New York Times Co’s news apps from its app store in China following a request from the Chinese authorities, the companies said separately on Thursday.
Apple removed both the English-language and Chinese-language apps from the iTunes store in China on Dec. 23, according to the New York Times, which first reported the action.
The request comes as the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the country’s top Internet regulatory body, has called for greater media scrutiny, citing fears of social disorder, moral harm and threats to national security.
The regulator did not immediately provide a comment on the removal of the New York Times app.
“The request by the Chinese authorities to remove our apps is part of their wider attempt to prevent readers in China from accessing independent news coverage by The New York Times of that country,” the New York Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy told Reuters.
“We have asked Apple to reconsider their decision,” Murphy said.
The Chinese government has blocked The Times’ websites since 2012 after a series of articles on the wealth amassed by the family of Wen Jiabao, who was then prime minister, according to the New York Times report.
“We have been informed that the app is in violation of local regulations,” Fred Sainz, an Apple spokesman told Reuters.
An Apple spokeswoman in China declined to comment on which regulatory body they conferred with and specific reasons behind the request.
State-backed censorship
Apple has previously removed news apps from its China app store, but none as high-profile as the New York Times.
Apple also removed its iBooks store and iTunes Movies services in April 2016 on request from authorities. The services remain blocked.
Apps from other international publications whose websites are blocked by Chinese regulators, including CNN, The Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times, were still available in the app store on Thursday.
Chinese mainstream media has not reported the app removal but it was discussed widely on social media.
“This must be coming from the request of The Wall right?” said one user on Chinese social media service Weibo, referring to the country’s state-backed Internet censorship program. “Apple has made enough money in China, it’s OK for it to take the blame this time for the sake of the money.”
Other users said they would attempt to change their country ID within the app store to restore access to the app.
While the New York Times has remained blocked since 2012, mirroring sites managed by anti-censorship advocates have periodically made its content available in the country. (Reporting by Aishwarya Venugopal)
Apple pulls New York Times app in China after government request
Apple pulls New York Times app in China after government request
Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ launch exclusive streaming bundle across GCC
- Bundle available exclusively visa Shahid for $25 a month
RIYADH: In a landmark regional collaboration, Shahid, Disney+, and OSN+ have announced an exclusive streaming bundle that brings together world-class hits from the three platforms under a single subscription in a first-of-its-kind offer for audiences in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
The all-in-one entertainment package, available only through Shahid in the GCC for about $25 a month, grants subscribers full access to three leading platforms covering Hollywood blockbusters, Disney+’s expansive range of beloved films, animations and series, OSN+’s library of HBO originals and international hits, and Shahid’s Arabic premium content.
The bundle is designed to simplify subscription management with a unified payment model, allowing viewers to access all three apps at the price of two and offering a streamlined user experience.
Natasha Matos-Hemingway, chief commercial and marketing officer at Shahid, said the partnership reflects a broader effort to expand digital entertainment offerings in the Middle East, catering to a growing audience seeking diversity, convenience and high-quality programming.
“We are proud to collaborate with OSN+ and Disney+ to offer an unmatched streaming experience to our subscribers,” she said. “With one subscription, one payment, and full access to premium content from all three platforms, we’re delivering unbeatable convenience, value and entertainment.”
With a growing demand for high-quality on-demand content, the bundle is expected to attract a wide range of users seeking comprehensive entertainment without juggling multiple subscriptions.
The move also signals increasing cooperation between global media giants and regional platforms, in a bid to meet the entertainment preferences of Arab audiences while expanding market reach.
Karl Holmes, SVP and general manager at Disney+ EMEA, said the collaboration will bring award-winning series like FX’s “Shogun” and favorites such as “Lilo & Stitch” into a unique bundle with Shahid’s regional hits including “Al Dariya.”
The agreement “reflects a shared ambition between Disney+ and Shahid to shape the future of entertainment in the Middle East,” said Holmes. “The Middle East is young, dynamic and fast-growing, and we’re delighted to give consumers a new and easy way to access extraordinary content at exceptional value.”
Choucri Khairallah, chief business officer at OSN+, said the partnership takes OSN+’s entertainment experience “to the next level.”
He added: “Today’s audiences expect more than great content; they seek seamless access, variety and exceptional value. This all-in-one bundle delivers exactly that.”
